With McKinner Dixon, Rashad
Hunt and Dan'tay Ward
no longer in the football program and former 2006 signee Broderick
Marshall enrolled in a junior college, depth at defensive line is an
issue for Texas Tech.

And think back even further to a year earlier when prospect
Brian West verbaled to the Red
Raiders and remained committed for nearly six months before switching his commitment
to Auburn a month before signing day.

The above scenarios have created a situation that has left the Red Raiders
with virtually no depth at defensive tackle heading into spring practices. Assistant
head coach Ruffin McNeill coaches
the defensive tackles, and he knows more than anyone that solid depth is a key
in being able to rotate them throughout the game.

So, how will McNeill handle
it with only two healthy scholarship tackles (Rajon
Henley and Richard Jones)
this spring?

The two primary candidates to start at defensive tackle and nose guard are
for the most part set according to McNeill. Sophomores Richard Jones and Rajon
Henley are two very talented players that played as true freshmen, but behind
them is essentially nothing.

"We played those guys last year in preparation
and in anticipation for this year," McNeill said.